Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1181

Whitney didn't want her mom to go back to Germinia full of bitterness, never making peace with Dad for the rest of their lives.

Even if her parents could never go back to what they used to be, she knew they both deserved to know the truth.

And deep down, Whitney hoped her mom could recover some old memories— maybe heal some of the pain she'd kept buried for so many years.

She took a long, steady breath, then looked at Parisa with all the seriousness she could muster. "Mom, I'm not trying to push you and Dad back together."

Parisa seemed uneasy, her fingers picking at the edge of the blanket. "Whitney... I got married in Germinia, you know?" Her voice was hesitant, as if she needed Whitney to really hear it. Even though that marriage had been short, her late husband much older, and more of a mentor than a soulmate, Parisa was still grateful for the kindness and support he'd shown her, especially in her career.

Back then, her husband in Germinia had been drawn to her sharp business sense, and he'd helped her find her footing, step by step.

Whitney could sense the respect her mom held for that chapter of her life.

She nodded, a trace of regret in her smile. "Dad got married too, you know... You and he―your lives went in totally different directions for more than a decade. Mom, I'm not a kid anymore. I'm not going to throw a tantrum and wish you'd magically get back together. I just... This is probably the only chance you'll have to see each other again. I just hope you can finally pull that thorn out of your heart, stop it from hurting you. I think that's what Dad wants too.

see you, but

same hospital roof for days, and if Hudson were the pushy type, he'd have shown up at her door already-but he hadn't. Not once had

over the cool fabric. The

to let Whitney down, but at the same time, she

happened between her and Hudson, all those years ago? Why had Keegan Tennyson said their father had moved the whole family to Banyan City, hiding out, running

answers from Keegan the day before, but he'd kept his lips

For a long

moment, Parisa just sat

eyes

thoughtful Finally, she nodded.

million questions and blank

way, you'll have what you wanted

want to be the

so moved-she knew how much courage it took for Parisa to agree. The past was a locked box, after all; who knew what they'd find when they opened